Troy University Athletics
Trojans Burn Bulls as Bats Catch Fire
3/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. - Freshman Heidi Johnson hit a grand slam and a three-run home run as she broke the school record for RBIs in a game with eight as Troy defeated the Bulls from South Florida, 17-5 for the first time in three meetings.
Johnson ended the game four for five with eight RBIs and scored two of Troy's (19-20) 15 runs. Johnson broke the school record for RBIs in a game that was previously set at five six different times.
It feels awesome to be seeing the ball so well right now especially the way our team has struggled the last two games against South Florida,” Johnson said. Being from Debary, Fla., just across the state from Tampa makes it especially sweet.”
As far as Heidi Johnson, she is a great kid who listens and loves the game and you're always happy when your players do well but in particular when one possesses all of those intangibles and raw talent. I look forward to Heidi having a career as a Troy Trojan,” head coach Melanie Davis said.
Junior Brittany Krbec also contributed to Troy's routing of the Bulls as she went three for five with four RBIs, a grand slam and scored one run.
Troy hit five home runs in the game against USF (27-18), in addition to Johnson and Krbec's home runs, sophomore Caurie Miller hit a solo home run and junior Stacey Dwyer a two-run home run.
All of our Troy softball fans are well aware of the roller coaster ride this team has been on thus far this season and certainly it feels much better to be on the top of one of those mountains right now especially the way our bats have struggled this season,” Davis said.
To score 30 runs today including 17 against South Florida who was at the Regionals last season in the post-season and whose coach Ken Eriksen is Team USA pitching coach. He kept us off balance the first two times that we played and we lost to them 1-0 and 2-0 and it was great to see our kids make adjustments against a really good pitching staff at USF.”
USF started things off in the first with a solo home run by Christie Chapman.
Miller hit a solo home run on the first pitch in the second inning in response to USF to put Troy on the board and tie the game at one.
Junior Stacey Dwyer hit her second home run of the day to take the lead in the third. Dwyer's home run was also hit on the first pitch she saw from Christi Ecks.
There were only three runs that were not scored off home runs and 13 of the 17 runs Troy scored were earned. USF committed four errors in the game and Troy three and only three of USF's five runs were earned.
In the third inning, Troy scored seven runs on three hits and USF committed two errors.
Troy broke out of its offensive slump earlier in the day by pounding out 13 hits in a 13-1 rout of Siena.
Every starter in the lineup for Troy had at least one hit and juniors Amanda Ragans and Stacey Dwyer hit two-run and three-run home runs, respectively.
Troy clinched the game in the fourth by scoring eight runs on seven hits. Dwyer hit a three-run home run and all eight runs were scored with two outs.
Troy started things off in the first when Siena loaded the bases by walking Dwyer, junior Brittany Krbec, and sophomore Jessica Lyle. Freshman Heidi Johnson then hit a ball up the left field line that was misfielded by the centerfielder bringing in Dwyer and Lyle. Krbec was thrown out at home to end the inning, 2-0 Trojans.
The Saints responded with a home run by Jennifer Granato to close Troy's lead a little, 2-1 Troy.
Ragans hit a two-run home run in the third, scoring Johnson who singled, to extend the lead for Troy, 5-1. It was her first home run of the season and the sixth of her career.
Hammer went three for four, while Miller and Johnson each ended the game two for three.
Junior Laine Harcourt notched the win on the mound as she went three innings allowed one run and five hits. She improves to 9-10 on the season.
The Trojans will be in the championship game of the Mercer Nissan Invitational on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. EST against host Mercer at Sikes Field.
